According to Paul (1990), critical thinking is recognized as the single-most consistent platform for expanding knowledge across each and every academic discipline. Ironically, we as humans are not only innately logical but, illogical as well. We as humans, use meanings – analogies, models, ideas, concepts, theories, and explanations – to understand, control things, predict, and make sense of things. We are the only ones that utilize meanings to construct, contradict, and deceive ourseles to misconceive, distort, and stereotype, to become dogmatic, prejudiced, and narrow- minded. Our thinking can be described in terms like, precise, relevant, clear, accurate, profound, consistent, and fair. We are also the only ones whose thinking is regularly, vague, imprecise, irrelevant, inaccurate, superficial, biased, and trivial. Critical thinking involves a process. It initially begins with making observations. From a series of observations, we establish facts. From series of facts, or from a lack of facts, we make inferences. We then test the validity of our inferences, in order to make assumptions. From our assumptions, we form our opinions. Taking our opinions, we use the principles of logic to develop arguments and when we want to test the arguments of others, we employ critical analysis. Through critical analysis we challenge the observations, facts, inferences, assumptions, opinions, and arguments, in the arguments that we are analyzing (“Critical Thinking”, 2013). Richard Paul (1995b), states that all reasoning has eight basic elements. These elements are:
All reasoning has a purpose.
All reasoning is an attempt to figure something out, to settle some question, to solve some problem.
All reasoning is based on assumptions.
All reasoning is done from some point of view.
All reasoning is based on data, information, and evidence.
All reasoning is expressed through, and shaped by, concepts and ideas.
All reasoning contains inferences by which we draw conclusions and give meaning to data.
All reasoning leads somewhere, has implications and consequences.
According to Paul (1990), critical thinking is recognized as the single-most consistent platform for expanding knowledge across each and every academic discipline. Ironically, we as humans are not only innately logical but, illogical as well. We as humans, use meanings – analogies, models, ideas, concepts, theories, and explanations – to understand, control things, predict, and make sense of things. We are the only ones that utilize meanings to construct, contradict, and deceive ourseles to misconceive, distort, and stereotype, to become dogmatic, prejudiced, and narrow- minded. Our thinking can be described in terms like, precise, relevant, clear, accurate, profound, consistent, and fair. We are also the only ones whose thinking is regularly, vague, imprecise, irrelevant, inaccurate, superficial, biased, and trivial. Critical thinking involves a process. It initially begins with making observations. From a series of observations, we establish facts. From series of facts, or from a lack of facts, we make inferences. We then test the validity of our inferences, in order to make assumptions. From our assumptions, we form our opinions. Taking our opinions, we use the principles of logic to develop arguments and when we want to test the arguments of others, we employ critical analysis. Through critical analysis we challenge the observations, facts, inferences, assumptions, opinions, and arguments, in the arguments that we are analyzing (“Critical Thinking”, 2013). Richard Paul (1995b), states that all reasoning has eight basic elements. These elements are:
All reasoning has a purpose.
All reasoning is an attempt to figure something out, to settle some question, to solve some problem.
All reasoning is based on assumptions.
All reasoning is done from some point of view.
All reasoning is based on data, information, and evidence.
All reasoning is expressed through, and shaped by, concepts and ideas.
All reasoning contains inferences by which we draw conclusions and give meaning to data.
All reasoning leads somewhere, has implications and consequences.
A short YouTube video on critical thinking:
Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking: How to prepare students for a rapidly changing world
Critical Thinking Wiki
Claudia Viacava Lynch